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What a stunning weekend we enjoyed here in Santa Barbara!
We felt very blessed indeed to be on the other side of the country from Irene, though Older Son lives in Manhattan so as you can probably guess there were just a few phone calls and gentle reminders to buy flashlights & batteries, followed by “MOOOMMM, REAlly, I’ll be FINE“.
Hey, that’s my job.
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Saturday I woke up very early (one guess why 
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What a treat! I hadn’t been all summer and I was truly inspired by the abundance of delights our local farmers had to offer.
I picked up everything from passion fruit to ginormous fresh stems of ginger (another post) They filled the house with the most divine scent you can imagine- you only had to close your eyes to be in Hawaii.
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At the other end of the scent spectrum, check out the size of these scallions!
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(we just used regular honey for this, but I’d like to try making the Lavender-Rose version; recipe here;
In a glass jar mix 1 quart mild honey with 3/4 cup dried organic rose petals and 1/2 dried lavender flowers (I’m going to try to dry my own, how hard could it be?). Seal and let stand on a sunny windowsill for 2 weeks. Warm jar under hot water and strain into a clean jar. Store in cool, dark place.
(Recipes via Food & Wine magazine)
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Like going to church on Saturday, “Mama’s” homemade jellies provide stained-glass visuals at the entrance to the market.
“Mama” calls everybody “Sweetie”
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Not sure what these are, but awfully interesting texture, they’d be beautiful in a big ebony bowl
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Have you ever seen purple green peppers?
I’ve seen yellow, red and orange green peppers but never pecked a pack of purple peppers pefore.
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The plums were positively bursting to be ‘crumbled’
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Dragon Tongue snap beans
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Lemon cucumbers
I don’t know what you do with them. The vendor was about as helpful as a sidewalk crack.
Read this and be sorry Mr. Lemon Cucumber Vendor.
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Beets like sunsets
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Crazy eel cukes
I could go on and on…I took so many photos at the market (husband tapping foot, patiently wheeling my purchases) but I’ll leave you with a cool drink, some carrots and a delicious recipe for crudite dip. Aren’t we all healthy?!!
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credit unknown
I think you could substitute greek yoghurt for mayo? Just don’t take my creme fraiche away from me.
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Watercolour carrots by Slim Paley
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Love your last few days of August!.
xx
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.For market days & locations click here
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